Flyers must declare cash of over Rs. 10,000

The Customs Baggage Declaration (Amendment) Regulations, 2014, notified on February 10 and likely to come into force on March 1, say an Indian citizen need to fill the immigration form only when flying abroad.

Indian citizens flying in from abroad will soon be spared from filling the immigration form at airports. But those carrying Indian currency exceeding Rs. 10,000 or gold bullion or jewellery above the mandated limit will have to make a declaration.

The Customs Baggage Declaration (Amendment) Regulations, 2014, notified on February 10 and likely to come into force on March 1, say an Indian citizen need to fill the immigration form only when flying abroad.

But those returning will have to declare prohibited articles, gold jewellery (over the free allowance), gold bullion and Indian currency exceeding Rs. 10,000 in the new Indian Customs declaration form, which will be different from the detachable perforated strip with the present immigration card. The form carries additional fields for declaration of dutiable and prohibited goods to help check Customs duty fraud and keep a record of gold jewellery and bullion. Fields such as declaration of foreign currency remain. Besides, passengers will have to declare the number of pieces of baggage, including hand baggage.

I really could not understand the great fuss about the new policy. Present form also contains everything, may be very brief. There is a column of value of the things which are being carried with the passenger. If the Customs Official wants to harass he can do in the present form or in any form. Officials are empowered to verify your declaration even in the present form. OK, ti make simple if a passenger brings good worth below the allowable limit, he need to declare in the present form and just walk away after enforcement of new procedures. If some one carry more than allowable limit he needs to declare now also (in brief) and may be to declare in detail. So what is the difference and fuss about it. All talk about currency exceeding Rs 10,000. I think all can carry ATM and I am sure ATM works in India also NRI can use their ATM card, may be shelve few more dollars as commission ans on. So I did not find any problem in new procedures. Finally, we have lot other than this and GOOD LUCK

from:
V. Veethividangan

Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 at 10:15 IST

People are getting confused between declaring INDIAN currency more than 10000 Rupees and not allowing into the country currency more than 10000 rupees. It is the former. You have to declare the amount if you bring in INDIAN currency of more than 10000 rupees.

from:
Meg

Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 at 05:24 IST

The Custom officers at Chennai Airport are better & more decent than at some other airports which I had experienced due to my visits for more than 3 decades as an NRI. Even the TVs were duty-free at Chennai for a long time. But when the govt levies duty on TV, perhaps to encourage local factories, Custom officers have to follow the rule and it is wrong if people blame them.

from:
Akbar

Posted on: Feb 18, 2014 at 01:20 IST

This is great news!

The customs officers posted at Chennai airport have got another weapon to extract money from people. The new regulations on importing of television sets have already 'empowered' them enough.

from:
F.M. Franco

Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 at 11:59 IST

A cash limit of Rs 10,000 seems too low for a transit passenger passing through any of the major airports to a regional city. It would have been considerate of the Govt had the limit been set, at least, at a level sufficient to pay for the hotel rent, taxi, food, incidental expenses and any contingencies for 1 day, say at about Rs 20,000 (based on a Mumbai/Delhi hotel rate, and the ever rising inflation in hotel/food/taxi costs).

If the limit is not relaxed it is likely to cause, entirely avoidable, anxiety to transit passengers (what if the ATM card does not work, where do I exchange foreign currency as soon as I set down after a long and tiring journey often without good food or sound sleep - at what exchange rate, do I need to sort this out before I go to the hotel, etc). It is highly unlikely that this is the channel for currency smuggling or black money or hot money transfer, and such a ruling will only inconvenience ordinary passengers, the bulk of whom are Indians.

from:
D Mahapatra

Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 at 11:48 IST

a small correction to the comment. Now there is no need to file
the immigration form when you enter USA. It is enough if you file a simple customs declaration form.

from:
balakrishnan

Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 at 11:30 IST

The customs authorities need to confirm classification of "returnees" as permanently returning to India and not on holiday or vacation.

from:
SHYAMSUNDER

Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 at 11:28 IST

@Avinash - I don't understand your comment- why are you giving us a geography lesson?

from:
Ajay

Posted on: Feb 17, 2014 at 04:19 IST

good move and nothing to fear for genuine tourists.

from:
bhim

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 19:36 IST

What about Overseas citizenship service availed by Indians Will it apply to them or not? Clarification needed

from:
jagannathan

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 19:23 IST

Bagdogra is an international airport and it's in India too.

from:
Debasish

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 19:15 IST

Indians are generally nice people, but they will find a way to irritate the foreigners. Now the government is doing that.

from:
poulose

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 19:15 IST

Will these rules apply to Sonia Gandhi, her children and Robert Vadra as well? Just curious

from:
Suresh Ganapathy

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 18:38 IST

Visakhapatnam is also an International Airport and is in India only..

from:
Raghavendra Rao MV

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 17:40 IST

Make sure that Credit Cards are accepted at every shop at the Airport. 10K Rs is too less, a Samosa with Chai/Cafe at Airport Cafetaria would cost around 1000Rs.For Arrving International Passengers who need to catch connecting flights to other smaller cities need some cash to carry.

from:
Yash

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 16:59 IST

No fears about the tourists. When you enter USA you have to fill in the immigration form( not for green card holders and US Citizens) and also customs form invariably specifically giving all the details now required by India. Welcome move. Genuine tourists need not fear

from:
ramu

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 15:07 IST

Mangalore is an International Airport and it is in India.

from:
Avinash

Posted on: Feb 16, 2014 at 14:33 IST

I fear this may affect/decrease tourist influx to India causing great economic loss to the country and the business comunity.